Half a mile from home, at the far edge of the woods where the land was highest, a great

pine tree stood.

The top of this ancient tree towered above all the others and made it visible for miles and miles. Sylvia
had always believed that whoever climbed to the top of it could see the ocean. Now she thought of the
tree with a new excitement. Why, if she climbed at dawn, would she not be able to see the whole world,
and discover where the white heron flew, and find its hidden nest?

What an adventure! As she lay awake in her bed, she thought of the glory and triumph of telling everyone
the secret of where the heron hid. Sylvia knew her mother and her guest were fast asleep, so she crept
out of the house and followed the path through the woods. The air was filled with the sleepy songs of half-
awakened birds.

There was the huge tree, seeming to sleep in the fading moonlight. Sylvia bravely began to climb, the
blood racing through her veins, her bare hands and feet gripping the bark. First she had to climb the oak
tree that grew alongside. Sylvia felt her way easily. She had often climbed there before, and knew that
higher up one of the oaks upper branches rubbed against the pine trunk. When she had reached it, the
way was harder than she had thought. The sharp twigs scratched her, and the sticky pine sap made her
little fingers clumsy and stiff.

The tree seemed to grow taller as she climbed, and she began to doubt if she could reach her goal before
dawn. But Sylvia passed the last thorny branch, her face shining with triumph as she stood at the very
top, weak and shaking with exhaustion.

There was the sea, dazzling in the first morning light. Two hawks flew east, so far below her she felt she,
too, might fly away among the clouds. The birds sang louder and louder until the sun came up.

This beauty almost overwhelmed little Sylvia, but she did not forget her mission. Where was the white
heron? She looked down to the green marsh where she had seen him before. There he was, rising and
sweeping towards the great pine tree. He landed, and Sylvia froze as she watched the heron, perched two
branches below, calling to his mate, cleaning his feathers for the new day.

La mitad de una milla de la casa, en el extremo ms alejado del bosque donde la tierra era ms alta, un
gran rbol de pino en pie. La parte superior de este antiguo rbol se alzaba por encima de todos los dems
y lo hizo visible por millas y millas. Sylvia siempre haba credo que quien subi a la cima de ella poda ver
el ocano. Ahora que pensaba en el rbol con un nuevo entusiasmo. Por qu, si ella se subi al amanecer,
ella no sera capaz de ver todo el mundo, y descubrir dnde la garza blanca vol, y encontrar su nido
escondido?

Qu aventura! Mientras yaca despierto en su cama, pens en la gloria y el triunfo de decirle a todo el
mundo el secreto de la garza donde se escondi. Sylvia saba que su madre y su huspedes eran
profundamente dormido, as que ella se arrastr fuera de la casa y sigui el camino por el bosque. El aire
se llen con las canciones de las aves soolientas medio-despertado.

All estaba el enorme rbol, que pareca dormir en la luz de la luna la decoloracin. Sylvia valientemente
comenz a subir, las carreras de la sangre por sus venas, sus manos y pies de agarre de la corteza.
Primero tuvo que trepar el rbol de roble que creca al lado. Sylvia sinti que su camino con facilidad. A
menudo haba subido all antes, y saba que ms arriba en una de las ramas superiores del roble se frot
contra el tronco de pino. Cuando ella haba llegado a ella, el camino era ms difcil de lo que haba
pensado. Las ramitas afiladas su rayados, y la savia de pino pegajosa hicieron sus pequeos dedos torpe y
rgido.

El rbol pareca crecer ms alto mientras suba, y ella empez a dudar si podra llegar a su meta antes del
amanecer. Pero Sylvia pas la ltima rama espinosa, su rostro brillando con triunfo mientras permaneca
de pie en la parte superior, dbil y temblando de agotamiento.
All estaba el mar, deslumbrante en la primera luz de la maana. Dos halcones volaron al este, hasta el
momento por debajo de ella se senta ella, tambin, podra volar entre las nubes. Los pjaros cantaban
ms y ms fuerte hasta que sali el sol.

Esta belleza casi abrumado poco Sylvia, pero ella no se olvid de su misin. Dnde estaba la garza
blanca? Ella mir hacia abajo para el pantano verde donde ella lo haba visto antes. All estaba l,
levantndose y barrer hacia el gran rbol de pino. Aterriz, y Sylvia se qued inmvil mientras observaba
la garza, encaramado dos ramas de abajo, llamando a su compaera, la limpieza de sus plumas para el
nuevo da.